"Eric, I think, has to get his game back. The last several games he's been pressing. He's just going through some growing pains right now. This could be short term."

Gelinas has struggled mightily in his last seven games, putting up just one assist as well as a minus-3 against the Anaheim Ducks and a minus-2 against the Chicago Blackhawks on Friday night.

Maybe this is a short-term shock to the system for Gelinas, indicative of how badly the Devils need him to play well again. A 6-4 defenseman with a cannon shot and great offensive instincts can’t exactly be replicated by another player on the roster.

The question is whether it's better to keep in the NHL to have him work this out or to shuttle him off to Albany.